Automotive Conventions
Without a doubt, Greenville and its surrounding region is the hub for innovative automotive research and education. With 117 automotive companies located in Greenville with additional throughout the Upcountry, as well as prominent training and educational programs at Clemson University and Greenville Technical College, your attendees are sure to gain a memorable experience. Planning a meeting or convention in Greenville promises state-of-the-art facilities, in-depth tours and expert industry speakers, along with first-class convention service.
Ask the Expert
Get the inside scoop on the latest automotive research and trends from a true expert. Industry professionals who could potentially serve as speakers for your next meeting or convention in Greenville and the Upcountry include management from BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC and Michelin North America Inc., department heads of automotive and engineering programs at Clemson University and Greenville Technical College, InnoVenture presenters as a well as knowledgeable contacts at the 50 BMW Automotive supplier companies around the region.
Automotive Overview
- Over $3 billion since 1994 has been invested by BMW and other automotive suppliers around the Upcountry, establishing our ranking as a world leader in the automotive industry.
- BMW, Michelin, Magna and Nissan top the list of the 117 automotive companies residing in our region, home to more automotive manufacturing companies within a 500-mile radius than around Detroit.
- Greenville is in the center of the motorsports corridor between Atlanta and Charlotte where two-thirds of major racing teams are based.
- BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC, BMW’s only production facility in the United States, is headquartered Greenville’s Upcountry. All of the world’s BMW Z4 Roadsters and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles are created at the 2.3 million square foot plant.
- Capture the history of BMW through a self-guided tour at the BMW Zentrum. Here, you will discover BMW cars, race cars, motorcycles and aircraft engines with an up-close look at the past, present and future of BMW’s innovative brand.
- Get first-class training behind the wheel of a brand new BMW at the BMW Performance Driving School, a $12.5 million, 64,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art Performance Center in the Upcountry. Taught by professional driving instructors, you will gain experience navigating a BMW through a skid pad, slalom course and water walls. From beginners seeking to build confidence to advanced drivers looking to master the art of performance driving, there are several different schools/courses, depending on your experience. Participation in the Driving School does not require you to own a BMW, you just need a passion for driving.
- Headquartered in Greenville, Michelin North America Inc. boasts a 3,500-acre test facility in Laurens, SC. The site includes 12 specialized tracks, varying in length and surfaces, for tire and suspension testing as well as driver training. Here, tires are tested for noise, adherence to wet surfaces, gravel endurance, off-road inclines, traction in mud and vehicle dynamics. Michelin’s first retail store in North America, Michelin on Main, is set to open in downtown Greenville, offering consumers merchandise along with high-tech interactive features.
- Greenville is home to the new Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR), a 400-acre automotive and motorsports research campus, originally launched as a collaboration between Clemson University, BMW Manufacturing Corp. and the state of South Carolina. The campus will be comprised of Clemson’s new Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Graduate Engineering center, state-of-the-art research and testing facilities and R & D operations that will support the regions growing automotive industry cluster.
- Greenville Technical College is home to The William F. McKinney Regional Automotive Technology Center, one of the largest automotive training facility, accredited by SACS, in the Southeast. With 94,000 square feet of space, the Center includes 19 multimedia classrooms, computer labs and offices with technologically advanced equipment, used to train technicians in auto body, automotive, diesel, motorsports and street rods. Automotive service and body service programs are available through partnerships with General Motors and Nissan/Infiniti.
Start Planning
We’re here for you! Submit an RFP with the specific requirements for your next automotive meeting or convention and let the Greater Greenville Convention & Visitors Bureau assist you in planning a successful event.
Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research
Greenville Area Development Corporation
Greenville Technical College of Automotive Technology
InnoVenture
Michelin North America Inc.
Upstate Alliance South Carolina